Reducing Energy

We have a long-term goal to improve energy efficiency at YVR and in 2014 we commenced work on a long-term energy plan for the airport. Since 1999, we’ve seen a cumulative savings of more than $12 million dollars in electrical and gas costs from energy-efficient initiatives.

Total energy consumption for the main terminal increased slightly last year; however, we were more efficient in energy use by area. We introduced new energy efficient floor space, which takes advantage of efficient products such as LED lights, in the Domestic Terminal’s A-B Connector. We saw savings from LED lighting projects and our interconnected heating and cooling plants allowed for more efficient energy use. We saw continued benefits from temperature-regulating doorways, econo-mode baggage conveyor belts and motion-activated sensors for walkways and escalators throughout the terminal.

POWER SMART PROGRAMS

The Airport Authority received the BC Hydro Power Smart Leadership Excellence designation at the 2014 Power Smart Excellence Awards. This award is presented to renewed Power Smart Leaders who achieved greater levels of energy savings year-over-year, clearly demonstrating they are on a path of continuous improvement.

We continued to participate in BC Hydro’s Energy Manager Program, which dedicates an existing employee to manage the implementation of energy-saving projects and improve existing operational and maintenance procedures.

SMART LIGHTING

In 2014, we installed LED lighting and improved lighting controls in several locations throughout the terminal, saving approximately 1.3 GWh of electricity.

We also saw continued benefits from previous installations. The LED fixtures on Arthur Laing Bridge save 77,000 kWh every year. Our dynamic signage backlight reduction initiative also provided an annual savings of 235,732 kWh ($9,500). And in 2014 we converted the lighting on The Spirit of Haida Gwaii: The Jade Canoe art installation from Halogen to LED theatrical lighting, which reduced the number of fixtures and power consumption per fixture.

LIGHT POLLUTION AND REDUCTION

The Airport Authority controls light levels to reduce impact on surrounding communities. We use light shields to reduce glare and are working on a broader roll-out of LED lighting. In 2014, we started a multi-year project to improve high mast lighting on our main aircraft apron, where we performed test trials using three different types of LED lighting fixtures at three different aircraft gates. The new LED technology will allow for better lighting levels and light quality, more controllability, lower power consumption, reduced glare and less light pollution for our neighbours. In 2015 we will complete our evaluation of the test trial LED fixtures and will implement a phased installation.

NATURAL GAS REDUCTION

To reduce use of natural gas, the Airport Authority conducted a number of initiatives that improve the operations of our Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) systems. These initiatives decreased natural gas use in the Domestic Terminal by 25 per cent since 2001.

In 2014, several new commercial kitchen hoods were installed in the new Domestic Terminal A-B Connector using air curtain technology to minimize kitchen exhaust volumes and thus natural gas consumed.

New Filtration Systems

In 2012, we conducted a study that showed how switching to a new low-energy filtration system in the terminal HVAC systems would significantly increase energy savings. After switching to this system in 2014, our data shows that we are consuming three times less energy.

Solar Hot Water

Two solar hot water systems power the Domestic and International Terminal Buildings. These systems help heat more than 1,500 gallons of hot tap water every hour, resulting in approximately $80,000 of energy savings in 2014. In June 2014, we introduced a new drain-back system in the International Terminal, reducing natural gas consumption by 132.29 GJ.

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